The union representing bus attendants, food service employees and special education aides in the Detroit Public Schools plans to file a lawsuit to fight pay cuts ordered by state-appointed emergency financial manager Roy Roberts.

"This law is going to be proven to be unconstitutional and it should not stand," AFSCME Local 345 President Keith January said at an emergency meeting last night, per Fox 2.

"It takes away our voting rights, and we feel that with our people, it's causing our people to go on the public's roles for food stamps and housing assistance."

Roberts announced late last month that he would impose a 10 percent wage cut on all DPS employees and increase the amount they must contribute to their health care plans, exercising his authority under Michigan's newly-strengthened emergency manager law.

The unions say they negotiated concession-heavy contracts with Robert's predecessor and cannot afford further pay reductions. January said many of his union members make less than $20,000 a year.

"I don't want to go on public assistance because I worked myself off of that back in '95," said member Theresa Green. "I don't want to turn back around and go back on public assistance. I want to keep on working so I can show my child we don't need that."

While critics say Michigan's new emergency manager law undermines democracy and collective bargaining rights, Roberts has characterized contract modification as a responsible cost-saving measure for a district saddled with a $327 million deficit.

"Times are different," Roberts said earlier this month on WJR-AM 760. "I'm here under a different public act. Public Act 4 really gives me the authority to run the district. If I was a foolish person that might be too much authority to put in one's hands. I'm not a foolish person."

January reportedly urged members to join the petition drive to repeal Public Act 4. But like DFT President Keith Johnson, he said the union will honor the current collective bargaining agreement and will not strike.